Refugee Review Tribunal AUSTRALIA RRT RESEARCH RESPONSE Research Response Number: AFG23652 Country: Afghanistan Date: 19 July 2005 Keywords: Afghanistan – Dahmarda - Nasr Party – Kakar tribe This response was prepared by the Country Research Section of the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the RRT within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Questions 1. What is the current security situation in Darhmarda? 2. What is the status of the Nasr Party in the area? 3. How active is the Pashtun Kakar tribe in the area? RESPONSE 1. What is the current security situation in Darhmarda? 2. What is the status of the Nasr Party in the area? 3. How active is the Pashtun Kakar tribe in the area? Darhmarda is variously called: Dah Mardah, Dahmarda, Damarda, and others. One of the town/city/village/regions named Dahmarda in Afghanistan is found in the Zabul province. It is located at Latitude 32.8667 and Longitude 67.4000. Population at the radius of 7 km from this point is estimated at 3,532 (‘Dah Mardah, Afghanistan Page’ 2004, fallingrain web site. http://www.fallingrain.com/world/AF/28/Dah_Mardah.html - Accessed 12 July 2005 - Attachment 1). Dahmarda is listed as one of more than 20 “regions” in the Jaghori district ('AFGHANISTAN: Enclyclopedia Iranica definition of JAÚGÚORI' 2004, Enclyclopedia Iranica, 14 September - Attachment 2). UNHCR Canberra states that Dahmarda village is geographically located in Arghandab district in Northern Zabul province, but is administratively under Jaghori district in Ghazni province. (UNHCR Canberra 2004, ‘Compilation of Country of Origin Information on Afghanistan Relevant in the Context of Refugee Status Determination in Australia’, 22 March – Attachment 3). However, it appears the village is not large enough to be listed in a comprehensive map of either of the districts in the two provinces (See ‘Arghandab District – Zabul Province – Afganistan’ 2004, AIMS, aims.org website, January http://www.aims.org.af/maps/district/zabul/arghandab.pdf - Accessed 20 June 2005 - Attachment 4 and ‘Jaghuri District – Ghazni Province – Afghanistan’ 2004, AIMS, aims.org website, January http://www.aims.org.af/maps/district/ghazni/jaghuri.pdf - Accessed 20 June 2005 - Attachment 5). The most recent authoritative information located on the security situation of Dahmarda, ‘Compilation of Country of Origin Information on Afghanistan Relevant in the Context of Refugee Status Determination in Australia’ by UNHCR Canberra comments that: The District Profile of July 2003 indicates that Jaghori district neighbours northern Zabul Province, where there has been significant recent upsurge of Taliban activity. Dahmarda village is geographically located in Arghandab district in Northern Zabul province, but is administratively under Jaghori district in Ghazni province. Dahmarda village, unlike Jaghori district, has the presence of both Hazara factions affiliated with Hezb-e-Wahdat (Khalili) and the Hezb-e-Wahdat (Aqbari). Whereas, Jaghori district is under the control of Hezb-e-Wahdat (Khalili), members of Harakat-e-Islami are said to be accepted but not present in the district (as stated in the July District Profile). In Dahmarda village in Zabul province, factional fighting appears to have caused some looting and raids, but due to its geographical location, Dahmarda village may also have armed elements that are Taliban supporters, as in other villages in Northern Zabul province and Central Uruzgan province (UNHCR Canberra 2004, ‘Compilation of Country of Origin Information on Afghanistan Relevant in the Context of Refugee Status Determination in Australia’, 22 March – Attachment 3). In December 2003 UNHCR Kabul advised that Hazaras should not be returned to Dahmarda due to Hazara factional fighting and the Taliban. In Dahmarda village in Zabul province, factional fighting appears to have caused some looting and raids, but due to its geographical location, Dahmarda village may also have armed elements that are Taliban supporters, as in other villages in Northern Zabul province and Central Uruzgan province. The entire Zabul Province (since March 2003), as well as Ghazni province (since December 2003) are high risk areas for UN staff due to the presence of Taliban supporters (UNHCR Kabul, 2003, Jaghori Update – Afghanistan, Email to DIMIA, 10 December – Attachment 6). The above UNHCR Canberra report of 2004 gives a general assessment of the security situation in the surrounding regions as follows: Ghazni Province Following the murder of Bettina Goislard on 16 November in Ghazni, UNHCR Afghanistan has implemented comprehensive security measures, mainly in the East, South-East and South of Afghanistan where Taliban infiltration is believed to be most prevalent. Field Office Ghazni remains closed, since 16 November 2003, and monitoring activities in this province has halted. In some districts of Ghazni like Andar, Nawa, Ab-band and Gilan districts, some of the Taliban are active and are carrying out activities against persons associated with NGOs and also with the government. General: The security situation in some of districts of Ghazni province has deteriorated since the District Profiles were issued in July 2003. Ghazni Province has been marked by terrorist threats, corruption and lawlessness. Disarmament has yet to take place in Ghazni province, and many civilians have expressed concern over the fact that any local dispute that arises, individuals owning weapons do not hesitate to use them for self- defence or retaliation purposes. The province of Ghazni, like all the provinces in the South-east region, is currently a high risk area for UN staff due to the presence of Taliban supporters. Trends and analysis in returnee monitoring illustrate that the security situation in Ghazni province has deteriorated as compared to the situation during the first quarter of 2003, particularly in the districts of Andar, Muqur, Khwaja Omari, Nawa, Nawur and Qarabagh. Throughout 2003, UNHCR staff has had no access to the districts of Ab Band, Gilan and Nawa, due to the precarious security situation. In districts where security is not a concern to returnees, questions with regard to the sustainability of returns were raised […] In Andar, Deh Yak, Gilan and Zana Khan districts, girls schools are at risk and some teachers and families have received threatening letters for teaching or sending their children to schools. Administration: All 17 districts in Ghazni, with the exception of Zana Khan, have district officials appointed by the Provincial Governor. For almost a year and a half ago, Ghazni province has been headed by Hon. Al Haj Assadullah Khalid, appointed officially by the Central Government. Pashtun ethnic, native of Nawa district (South of the province), he fought along Ustaz Sayyaf’s side during Jihad and later rallied Shura-e-Nezar (Ahmad Shah Massoud). In this context, he resisted Taliban in North Afghanistan and Tajikistan. He has progressively reshuffled his provincial administration, and has tried put in place a more professional structure, some criticising the fact that this has led to the removal of the Deputy Governor, of Hazara ethnic origin, and its replacement by a Pashtun ethnic. There are official and professional appointees in charge of Police and Intelligence Departments, while the post of Head of Garrison remains in the hand of a former warlord, strongman of Hezb-e-Wahdat (Khalili), Hazara, former member of Shura-e-Ettefaq, and native of Nawur district. Official Heads of District and Police have been appointed in most of the 18 districts of the province in year 2003, including Hazara-inhabited and ruled districts of Nawur, Jaghori and Malistan. These districts had been since the fall of Taliban ruled by self-appointed warlords. Reports of abuses were collected in this district during year 2002, authorities abusing their power to extort money, crop, land and in a few instances, to kidnap women. Jaghori, Malistan and Nawur districts: The three districts are exclusively populated by Afghans of Hazara ethnic origin and under the control of the Hezb-e-Wahdat and Harakat-e- Islami. This notwithstanding, a risk of infiltration by Taliban and risks of persecution and harm on ethnic grounds can not be excluded. […] Self-appointed district administrators are Hazaras in Jaghori (reportedly to be impartial), Malistan (affiliated with Hezb-e-Wahdat and Harakat-e-Islami) and Nawur, affiliated with Hezb-e-Wahdat (Aqbari). The Nawur district is generally under government control and the security is good. The new appointed governor of the district is called Abdul Khaliq Ahmadi, and the chief of the Police is called Mohamed Riza Ahmadi. There are no conflicts between groups reported in the district. Main concerns of the population: robberies and crimes related to personal enmities; pressure, extortion of crops, food, firewood and illegal taxation by armed elements, by local soldiers and commanders affiliated with Nasr in Maknak village in Malistan district, and in some villages in Nawur, reportedly by the District Administrator; abuses reported to take place mostly during the autumn and winter seasons and caused by the Head of Police, particularly in villages in Jaghori district. Dehmarde-Gulzar district: This is a sub-district of Ghazni and it has two roads leading to it. One road goes through the districts of Moqor and Qarbagh. The second road is through Sanga Masga, The first road is not safe, since there is a base located close by that belongs to a well- known commander (Bashi Habib) whose armed men are involved in robbery. The second road however is considered to be a safe. Qarabagh district: Qarabagh is for the year 2003 the main district of return within Ghazni province, with a total of 1,291 families – 5,908 individuals (as of 21/10/03) who repatriated to both Hazara and Pashtun areas. Returns to Pashtun areas constituted more a familial caseload repatriating from Pakistan, while returns to Hazara areas concerned essentially young single men, coming from Iran.